Experimental investigation and techno-economic assessment on Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyser with different cell components

In recent years, hydrogen has been identified as the main energy vector to tackle the climate crisis and drive the energy transition towards a green future. The present work focuses on hydrogen production using Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyser (AEMEL), an emerging technology still in need of improvements, particularly in the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA). The research involved an extensive investigation of different cell components to assess their impact on performances and the overall techno-economic viability. Experimental tests were conducted with state-of-the-art membranes (Sustainion, PiperION and Aemion) and cathodes (Raney Ni/Ni and Pt/C) evaluating the performances through short durability tests at 1 A cm- 2. A techno-economic analysis was then performed to calculate the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) and determine the most cost-effective configuration. The lowest LCOH of 2 kgH2 - 1 was obtained by coupling the AEMEL with renewable resources, showing significant potential for future growth.